As you can see, a grand slam in diamonds, hearts, or NT would be a laydown, yet we couldn’t decide what went wrong. Thought we should ask for your sage advice, Smart Guy. Grazie e arrivederci.
-- Frederico Fellini
Before deciding how to answer the great Fellini, I confirmed with Wikipedia that the director of “La Dolce Vita” was no longer in fact having la dolce vita, as he had died a few decades ago. Regardless, I played along and corresponded with him several times about the auction.
After the game-forcing 2♦call, FF’s 2NT rebid confirmed either (1) a balanced minimum (almost always 5332 shape) or (2) as in this case, a balanced hand with 18-19 HCP. If responder raises 2NT to 3NT, for example, a re-raise to 4NT would have shown the stronger version.
Signora Fellini’s 3♥bid confirmed 3-card heart support, but because she did not bid 4♥ (“fast arrival”), she was indicating that she had at least mild slam interest. Frederico of course knew a slam was in the offing, but only if his wife had a club control. 3♠ and 4♣ were indeed Q-bids Italiano, indicating 1st round control (A or void) or at least 2nd round control (K or singleton) in those suits. Since he had rebid 2NT, FF’s 3♠ bid could not be a singleton or void, so he clearly held the ♠A or K.
FF could not tell whether his wife’s club Q-bid was shortness or one of the top honors, but that’s what RKC is all about. He immediately launched into 4NT and discovered that Signora did in fact hold the 2 missing keycards -- both minor suit aces. He next trotted out 5NT, which they play as “specific kings”. This call advised his wife that their side held all 6 keycards, including the trump Q and asked the following question: “Bellissima, do you have any Kings you want to tell me about, or just maybe, do you have a hand with such fine undisclosed assets that you can immediately bid the grand yourself?”
Signora Fellini had not yet disclosed the stiff spade and her 6th diamond, but she could not guarantee 13 tricks -- nor could she see the lovely ♦K sitting in her husband’s hand. She therefore called 6♥ denying the ♣K and ♦K. (She could still hold the ♠K and have decided not to show it, since she would have to bypass 6♥ to bid 6♠.) Frederico knew it was time to sign off and did so. After he quickly claimed all 13 tricks, their heated but loving discussion ensued.
Signora Fellini “suggested” that the grand would have been much easier to reach if FF had bid 4♦ over her 4♣ call -- “isn’t that the reason we are playing Q-bids Italiano, Carissima?”. She would have known that it had to be the ♦K, since she held the ♦A and his 2NT bid promised a balanced hand.
Agreeing with the Signora, I pointed out to Frederico that Q-bidding 4♦ might have allowed his wife to take control of the auction with RKC. In fact, once she discovers your partnership holds all 6 keycards as well as the all-important ♦K, she should be able to envision the grand.
Frederico had two objections: first of all, “why would my wife bid RKC when she doesn’t yet know I have more than 14 pts?”, and secondly, at the table he rejected bidding 4♦ since “I don’t like giving the opponents TMI, if you know what I mean.”
Yes, FF, I know TMI means “too much information”, but if you want to bid a grand slam, you must share what you know with your spouse, just like in a good marriage! Since Signora’s hand was still unlimited, she may in fact be in a better position to bid the grand than you are. FYI, Frederico, the husband does not always have to take charge!
If in fact Signora had been unwilling to go past 4♥, I suggested this auction:
------1♥ – 2♦; 2NT – 3♥;
------3♠ – 4♣; 4♦- 4♥;
------4NT – 5♥; 5NT – 7♥ (or 7NT);
------All Pass
The auction is very similar to the couple’s original one, except this time Signora Fellini knows about the ♦K. When Frederico bids 5NT -- confirming all the keycards -- Signora can count 13 tricks (♠A, 5♥, 6♦, ♣A), assuming hearts and diamonds behave. She would also know that her husband has 18-19 HCP since 5NT confirms the ♥AKQ and ♠A and he had previously Q-bid the ♦K. If his hand also included the ♦J, then 7NT is a virtual laydown. If not, 7♥ could have play even if the FF held ♦Kx and the diamonds broke 4-1, as long as he held the ♣K or Q. Her next call should be one of the grands.
Frederico liked this version and at long last agreed with his beloved that “I should have definitely shown my diamond control”. The acclaimed director then confided about a rather caustic comment his wife made during their heated discourse: “Amore mio, do you recall your wonderful film ‘8½’? On this board we can make about 8½NT, so why in the Oscar-winning world are we are only in 6♥!?”
That’s when FF decided to email me…
